Whether you are a patient or visitor at Sunrise Hospital, we want your experience with us to be as pleasant as possible. We have provided helpful information to help you during your stay or while visiting a patient in the hospital.

Symptoms

Bleeding with bowel movements that result in bright red blood either on the toilet tissue or in the bowl

Small amounts of mucous may be present

Apprehension about bowel movement pain may cause you to delay bowel movements. This can make the symptom worse.

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Anal fissures are generally visible, so diagnosis can be made with an anal exam. If it is not visible, but suspected, your doctor may need to do other tests as long as it is not too painful. These tests include:

Digital rectal exam—to feel for any lumps or abnormalities

Anoscopy—examination of the anal canal with a scope

Fissures usually occur in predictable locations around the anus. If there are multiple cuts, or a cut in an unusual location, the doctor may order additional tests to look for other conditions.

Treatment

Treatment aims to heal the cut and prevent future anal problems. Most fissures heal on their own or with self-care. Fissures that are fairly new are easier to heal than ones that have persisted for longer than 3 months.

Treatments include:

Self-care

Fissures may heal by changing some of your daily habits. These include:

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.